tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post7085389035438080702..comments2024-01-01T01:47:59.449+02:00Comments on Yaacov Lozowick's Ruminations: Sixth Generation and the Defeat of DemographyYaacovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835192312242961481noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-12580247882817471762009-05-26T03:06:40.994+03:002009-05-26T03:06:40.994+03:00Large families in Haredi circles are a source of s...Large families in Haredi circles are a source of status for both the parents and the kids. There aren't many ways to display your family in secular culture. You can take the family to Disneyland but will any of your neighbours see you there? If you take your kids to a sports match you're there with only one or two of them. There really aren't public events where the whole family appears. Status in the secular world comes from money and connections - and kids hurt both your wealth and your ability to socialise.<br /><br />In contrast, Haredim have lots of family events. Being a single guy means that you're pitied; being a paterfamilias is a source of status. Every shabbat or moed is a reminder of this. Of course you want to have kids: it means that you're a substantial person and that your kids come from a substantial family. So not only do you want to have kids, but your own kids want to have siblings. It's a virtuous cycle.Joe in Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-4578228839093839152009-05-26T02:53:56.548+03:002009-05-26T02:53:56.548+03:00No birth control. Better access to health care. ...No birth control. Better access to health care. Better diet.<br /><br />NycerbarbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-64143267377891792122009-05-25T23:57:05.227+03:002009-05-25T23:57:05.227+03:00I suspect that an important reason is that the Har...I suspect that an important reason is that the Haredi still believe in the future. Secular Jews, in adopting operational atheism in concert with the increased narcissism of the post-war baby boomers (this is primarily about American Jews since that is who I know best) do not believe in a future that doesn't include them. In such a case, why sacrifice current pleasures for your children's future? (Please note, this is an unconscsiou dynamic that leads to one or two child families, where the two children can get all the best that money can buy. More than two children requires accepting personal limitations and sacrifices for the parents.)ShrinkWrappedhttp://shrinkwrapped.blogs.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-57940824587768408512009-05-25T13:26:51.203+03:002009-05-25T13:26:51.203+03:00I'm not so sure it's the Holocaust, otherwise the ...I'm not so sure it's the Holocaust, otherwise the Jewish birthrate in all segments of society would have risen dramatically immediately after the Holocaust, which it didn't except in religious circles. The reason to my mind is fulfilling the mitzva of Pru u'revu (be fruitful and multiply) which the religious, and the Haredim in particular, fulfil to the utmost. And with the advances in modern technology and medicine, most of the children survive to adulthood, something which was not common before the early to mid-20th century.anniehttp://discardedlies.comnoreply@blogger.com